Vatra Dornei (; german: Dorna-Watra; hu, Dornavátra) is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an or ...
in
Suceava County
Suceava County () is a county ('' ro, județ'') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper.
The county seat is the historical town ...
, north-eastern
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...
. It is situated in the historical region of
Bukovina
Bukovinagerman: Bukowina or ; hu, Bukovina; pl, Bukowina; ro, Bucovina; uk, Буковина, ; see also other languages. is a historical region, variously described as part of either Central or Eastern Europe (or both).Klaus Peter Berge ...
. Vatra Dornei is the fifth largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 14,429 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census.
It was declared a municipality in 2000, being the newest and smallest municipality in the county. The city administers three villages: Argestru, Roșu, and Todireni. Vatra Dornei is a well known spa and ski resort in the
Carpathian Mountains and also is home to the historic
Vatra Dornei Casino
The Therapeutic Baths’ Casino of Vatra Dornei, also known as the Vatra Dornei Casino (''Cazinoul Bailor'' OR ''Cazinoul din Vatra Dornei''), is an abandoned historic monument located in Suceava County, Romania in the town of Vatra Dornei. It w ...
.
Administration and local politics
Town council
The town's current local council has the following political composition, according to the results of the
2020 Romanian local elections
Local elections were held in Romania on 27 September 2020. Initially planned for June 2020, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led the Government of Romania to postpone the elections to a date no later than 31 December 2020, and extending all ...
:
Geography
Vatra Dornei is located in north-east Romania, in the south-western part of
Suceava County
Suceava County () is a county ('' ro, județ'') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper.
The county seat is the historical town ...
, away from
Suceava
Suceava () is the largest urban settlement and the seat town ( ro, oraș reședință de județ) of Suceava County, situated in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania, and at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe. Klaus Pe ...
, the capital of the county. The city of
Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Câmpulung Moldovenesc (; formerly spelled ''Cîmpulung Moldovenesc'') is a town in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina.
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is the fourth largest urban settlement in the ...
is away, the city of
Bistrița
(; german: link=no, Bistritz, archaic , Transylvanian Saxon: , hu, Beszterce) is the capital city of Bistrița-Năsăud County, in northern Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistrița River. The city has a population of approxima ...
away, the town of
Gura Humorului
Gura Humorului (; Hebrew and Yiddish: גורה חומורולוי - ''Gure Humuruluei'' or גורא הומאָרא - ''Gura Humora''; German and Polish: ''Gura Humora'') is a town in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the ...
away and the town of
Broșteni away.
Vatra Dornei is at the confluence of the rivers
Bistrița
(; german: link=no, Bistritz, archaic , Transylvanian Saxon: , hu, Beszterce) is the capital city of Bistrița-Năsăud County, in northern Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistrița River. The city has a population of approxima ...
and
Dorna, in the Dorna Depression. Because of its mountain surroundings, the city is a spa and ski resort, one of the oldest resorts in Romania. Vatra Dornei is connected to the Romanian national railway system and has two railway stations, Vatra Dornei and Vatra Dornei Băi, both historical monuments. The
European route E58
European route E 58 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Vienna, Austria and ends in Rostov-na-Donu, Russia. It is approximately long.
Route
*
**: Vienna - Fischamend - Bruck an der Leitha
**: Bruck an der ...
, that links the region of
Moldavia
Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Cent ...
with
Transylvania
Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...
, crosses the city.
History
The earliest written mention of the settlement is from 1592. Together with the rest of
Bukovina
Bukovinagerman: Bukowina or ; hu, Bukovina; pl, Bukowina; ro, Bucovina; uk, Буковина, ; see also other languages. is a historical region, variously described as part of either Central or Eastern Europe (or both).Klaus Peter Berge ...
, Vatra Dornei was under the rule of the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...
(later
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1 ...
) from 1775 to 1918. This was a period of development for the town, which became a well known resort in the early 19th century. Between 1925 and 1950, Vatra Dornei was part of the former Câmpulung County. From 1950 to present it's part of Suceava County.
The
historic
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
Vatra Dornei Casino
The Therapeutic Baths’ Casino of Vatra Dornei, also known as the Vatra Dornei Casino (''Cazinoul Bailor'' OR ''Cazinoul din Vatra Dornei''), is an abandoned historic monument located in Suceava County, Romania in the town of Vatra Dornei. It w ...
is located in the municipality.
Demographics
Until the early 1950s, Vatra Dornei had an ethnically mixed population of
Romanians,
Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
(more specifically
Bukovina Germans
''Buchelanddeutsche''
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, genealogy ...
),
Ukrainians
Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Or ...
, and
Jews
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
. The large synagogue and a picturesque Jewish cemetery bear witness to the Jewish presence and historical legacy in the area.
Vatra Dornei reached its peak population in 1992, when about 18,500 people were living within the town limits. Then the city population declined gradually. According to the 2011 census, Vatra Dornei had a total population of 13,659 inhabitants. Of this population, 98.65% are ethnically
Romanians, 0.64%
Roma, 0.23%
Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
(Bukovina Germans
''Buchelanddeutsche''
, native_name_lang =
, image =
, image_caption =
, image_alt =
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), 0.22%
Hungarians
Hungarians, also known as Magyars ( ; hu, magyarok ), are a nation and ethnic group native to Hungary () and historical Hungarian lands who share a common culture, history, ancestry, and language. The Hungarian language belongs to the Urali ...
, and 0.10%
Ukrainians
Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Or ...
.
Vatra Dornei is the fifth most populated urban settlement in
Suceava County
Suceava County () is a county ('' ro, județ'') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper.
The county seat is the historical town ...
, after the county capital,
Suceava
Suceava () is the largest urban settlement and the seat town ( ro, oraș reședință de județ) of Suceava County, situated in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania, and at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe. Klaus Pe ...
, and the cities of
Rădăuți
Rădăuți (; german: Radautz; hu, Radóc; pl, Radowce; uk, Радівці, ''Radivtsi''; yi, ראַדעװיץ ''Radevits''; tr, Radoviçe) is a town in Suceava County, north-eastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovi ...
,
Fălticeni
Fălticeni (; ''german: Foltischeni; hu, Falticsén;'' he, פלטיצ'ן yi, פאלטישאן) is a town in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Western Moldavia. Fălticeni is the second largest urb ...
, and
Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Câmpulung Moldovenesc (; formerly spelled ''Cîmpulung Moldovenesc'') is a town in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina.
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is the fourth largest urban settlement in the ...
.
Vatra Dornei is also the smallest and newest municipality in Suceava County.
Tourism
Vatra Dornei is a well known ski resort in the
Carpathian Mountains. There are ski slopes nearby the city, attracting tourists in winter season. Vatra Dornei is surrounded by large forest areas, proper places for practicing alpine tourism. There are mineral water springs in the city limits and its surroundings, that helped the settlement to develop as a spa. In the late 19th century and early 20th century
Bukovina
Bukovinagerman: Bukowina or ; hu, Bukovina; pl, Bukowina; ro, Bucovina; uk, Буковина, ; see also other languages. is a historical region, variously described as part of either Central or Eastern Europe (or both).Klaus Peter Berge ...
had only two spa towns: Vatra Dornei and
Solca.
Vatra Dornei has several hotels, two museums (The Ethnographic Museum and The Museum of Natural Sciences) and a few old buildings that are considered historical and architectural monuments:
the casino, the main spa building, the two railway stations, the town hall, ''Sentinela'' Spring, the post office building, and a few old churches.
Natives
*
Vasile Deac (1824–1909), Mayor of Vatra Dornei
*
Liliana Ichim (born 1967), alpine skier
*
Alfred Kuzmany (1893–1961), army general in the
Wehrmacht in
World War II
*
Bogdan Macovei (born 1983), luger
*
Andrei Nilă (born 1985), footballer
*
Platon Pardău (1934–2002), poet and writer
*
Teodosie Petrescu
Teodosie Petrescu (; born 12 December 1955; birth name: Macedon Petrescu ) is a Romanian cleric who has been the Archbishop of Tomis since 2001.
Biography
Early life
Born in Vatra Dornei, Suceava County, Teodosie was the 17th child of the fami ...
(born 1955), cleric
Gallery
File:Vatra Dornei.jpg, Dorna river
File:Primaria din Vatra Dornei2.jpg, Town hall
File:Gara Vatra Dornei5.jpg, Railway station
File:RO SV Vatra Dornei railway station 1.jpg, Vatra Dornei Băi railway station
File:Hotelul Carol din Vatra Dornei1.jpg, Carol Hotel
File:Biblioteca oraseneasca din Vatra Dornei.jpg, Town library
File:Judecatoria din Vatra Dornei.jpg, Court
File:Cladirea Izvorului "Santinela" - Vatra Dornei.JPG, Santinela spring
File:Casa Vladimir din Vatra Dornei.jpg, Vladimir House
File:Scoala nr. 4 din Vatra Dornei4.jpg, Elementary school nr. 4
File:KurparkVatraDornei.JPG, Japanese Pavilion
File:RO SV Vatra Dornei cultural center.jpg, House of Culture
File:Izvorul Unirea din Vatra Dornei.jpg, Unirea Spring
File:Templul Mare din Vatra Dornei4.jpg, Great Jewish Temple
File:Vatra Dornei - Strada Luceafarul.jpg, Luceafărul Street
File:Biserica romano-catolica din Vatra Dornei16.jpg, Roman Catholic Church
File:RO SV Vatra Dornei street 1.jpg, Mihai Eminescu Street, downtown Vatra Dornei
References
External links
*
Vatra Dornei Town Hall official site*
Vatra Dornei unofficial site*
Vatra Dornei touristic site*
The City Hospital of Vatra Dornei*
Vatra Dornei Live - Local news site*
Suceava County site - Vatra Dornei web page*
Photo Gallery - Old photos of Vatra Dornei
{{Authority control
Cities in Romania
Populated places in Suceava County
Ski areas and resorts in Romania
Spa towns in Romania
Mining communities in Romania
Bukovina-German people
Jewish communities in Romania
Localities in Southern Bukovina
Monotowns in Romania